Kevin Fagan, Creator of Drabble

"When I started Drabble, I was Norman: insecure, awkward and always embarrassing myself," Kevin Fagan, creator of Drabble, said on the United Media web site. "Now I find I identify more with Ralph. He's also insecure, awkward and always embarrassing himself, but he's older and doesn't care so much anymore." *(1) The cartoonist was afraid he would run out of ideas, but instead has had a steady stream of inspiration - from his own life.

Kevin Fagan constructed the framework for Drabble, a cartoon of a socially inept college student, while he was a history major at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). He created comic doodles as a young boy and his artistic streak continued throughout his school years. School newspapers at Saddleback College and then The Hornet at CSUS published his early work. Initially, Fagan was not paid for his comic strip by the student paper because he refused the payment offered by then-editor Rick Holloway. The cartoonist was in fear that the money offered per strip would run out and his cartoon would no longer be printed. (Neil, a character in Drabble, is based on Rick Holloway.) He needn't have worried. Fagan's comics appeared in the State Hornet paper for two years. *(2)

Editors at the Sacramento Union newspaper noticed Fagan's cartoons with interest, and offered him a spot in their newspaper. He accepted, and this time took the payment of $5 per strip. Using his published clips, Fagan took the advice of Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts and one of his favourite cartoonists, and mailed his artwork to the syndicates. Nine months later, United Features Syndicate put forward a contract for Drabble. The cartoon made its grand debut in 1979.

Only three courses short of a degree, Fagan left CSUS to become one of the youngest syndicated cartoonists. (Al Capp was also one of the youngest at age 19, with his cartoon Colonel Gilfeather, under Associated Press in the late 1920s.) Drawing the comic strip of the Drabble family's silly escapades has been Fagan's on-going career. Adding to the inspiration, Kevin and his wife have three children. The family resides in Mission Viejo, California.

For creating such a funny cartoon with loads of humour, well-developed characters, good clear drawings and a solid fan base, it is surprising that awards are not lining the cartoonist's wall. There seems to be a dearth of recognition for Drabble, other than an NCS nomination in 1996 for Best Greeting Cards. Kevin Fagan's work was published in a line of cards he created for Recycled Paper Greetings.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic